Coinneach hoped so. His wound ached something fierce. He drank some of his ale. Then he took up a position about thirty feet from Aodhan.
When everyone working in the inner bailey went into the keep for the noon meal, Coinneach’s stomach growled.
“After they have served the meal to everyone in the keep, some of the women will bring our food,” Aodhan explained.
Coinneach wanted to watch the tower stairs, hoping Aisling would soon bring their meals, but his job was to watch for the enemy.
After what seemed like an eternity, they heard someone approaching the tower stairs.
Aisling appeared, carrying a wild boar and bread. She smiled brightly at them both, but then she frowned. “You make sure that Coinneach returns to the barracks if he grows fatigued.”
Aodhan took the boar and bread from her, his eyes alight with mirth. “Aye, of course.”
Then she handed the meal to Coinneach. Once he held it in his hands, she reached up and touched his forehead. “No fever, thank the goddesses.”
Before he took a bite of his meat, he leaned over and kissed her. “Thank Cook for sending you to us.”
“Gormelia wanted the task when she learned Aodhan was up on the wall walk serving guard duty. She is even angrier with me than ever before. No matter. She canna get her way in all things.” But Aisling knew the spiteful woman would cause more trouble for her.
“Is that why she brought me ale when I waited for your mother to stitch me up?” Coinneach raised his brows, appearing to realize the woman’s motives suddenly.
Aisling hadn’t wanted to tell him about her trouble with Gormelia, but she supposed it would come out eventually. “Aye. You need no’ be concerned.”
Both men frowned. Aodhan said, “I’m no’ interested in the woman. She is a pest. Feel free to call upon me if you need my help in quelling her ire.”
Coinneach said, “Why dinna you tell me this before?”
“She is a bully, naught more.”
The dark look in his blue eyes meant he would deal with her in his own way.
Aisling patted his chest. “I know that look. I had already dropped a heavy iron pot on her foot when she spoke disparagingly about my mother. I can handle her.”
But Coinneach disagreed, and she knew he planned to do something to discourage Gormelia from giving Aisling any further grief.
She quickly kissed him then. “I must hurry back to the castle, or I will miss my meal.
He set his food on top of the crenelated wall, pulled her into a hug, and kissed her. “Thank you for bringing the food to us. And take care, sweeting.”
“Aye, you too.” Then she quickly hurried off with a backward wave and disappeared into the tower.
"If I were pursuinga fierce lass like her, I would claim her as mine without delay," Aodhan declared.
Coinneach barely heard him, his thoughts lingering on that venomous Gormelia. The heavy meal and afternoon sun conspired against him, and sleep claimed him atop the wall walk against his will.
A gentle tugging at his garment roused him. He bolted upright, causing Blair to recoil in surprise.
"Aodhan mentioned you were…in need of rest." Worry flickered across her features.
"Just a moment's rest," Coinneach muttered. The crimson sunset told him otherwise—hours had passed. He wondered about Aodhan's failure to rouse him.
"Your injury needs tending," Blair insisted.
He was going to say it was fine, but Blair’s expression, her set jaw, and her chin tilted up—now he knew where Aisling’s stubbornness came from—he knew Aisling’s mother would have her way. He pulled off his shirt, and she carefully removed his bandage.
She exhaled in relief. "It's starting to heal."
He felt pleased to hear it. At that moment, he understood she needed to witness it herself. Perhaps now she finally believed he would be a suitable partner for her daughter.
